Terrell Suggs Tears Achilles, Big Loss For Ravens

Terrell Suggs will have surgery

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs will have surgery for a partially torn Achilles tendon, an injury he insists will not keep him sidelined for the entire 2012 season.

The injury occurred in Arizona while Suggs was practicing for an upcoming conditioning test, he said Thursday in a text message.

Suggs initially thought it was a sprain but a doctor determined that it was a partial tear, he said.

The Ravens issued a statement Thursday saying: “We are in contact with Terrell. He will see a specialist early next week, and we’ll know more at that time.”

General manager Ozzie Newsome did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

Suggs, the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, is expected to have surgery as soon as next week. A torn Achilles tendon usually requires a lengthy rehabilitation program, but Suggs has no intention of sitting out the year.

Asked if he will play in 2012, he responded, “”Absolutely,” and projected his return to occur in late October or November.